Paterno family says Penn State email release smears coach

July 02, 2012|Reuters

NEW YORK, July 2 (Reuters) - The family of Joe Paterno onMonday said the name of legendary Penn State football coach isbeing smeared by the selective release of emails relating to asex abuse investigation, and called on investigators to releaseall emails in the matter.

"The public should not have to try and piece together astory from a few records that have been selected in a calculatedway to manipulate public opinion," the family said in astatement.

Paterno, the legendary head coach who won more games thanany major college coach, was fired from Penn State last Novemberfollowing the arrest of Paterno's long-time assistant, JerrySandusky, who was charged with preying on young boys he metthrough charity he founded for disadvantaged youth.

University officials said at the time that Paterno, who wasnever charged with a crime, should have more forcefullyintervened when he learned of the accusations years earlier.

Paterno died this year at the age of 85.

Last month, a jury found Sandusky guilty on 45 of 48 childsex abuse charges. Former athletic director Tim Curley andformer finance official Gary Schultz have been charged withperjury and failing to alert authorities to one act of abuse bySandusky.

One of the star witnesses in Sandusky trial, former PennState assistant coach Mike McQueary, testified he had seenSandusky abusing a young boy in a football locker room in 2001.He reported the incident to Paterno and campus authorities butneither police nor child protection services were informed.

An email, written by Curley provided to CNN, appears tosuggest that Paterno, who is often described as a God-likefigure at the university, had urged his colleagues not to reportthe incident to Sandusky's charity, the Second Mile, or to thestate Department of Welfare.

"After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joeyesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the nextsteps," Curley's email said, according to CNN.

In a statement, the coach's family said Paterno "abhorredthe rush to judgment."

"Releasing these emails in this way is not intended toinform the discussion but to smear former Penn State officials,including Joe Paterno," the family said. "The truth is JoePaterno reported the 2001 incident promptly and fully."

(Reporting By Edith Honan; Editing by Greg McCune and CynthiaOsterman)